Confusion surrounds Mutu
Thursday 5 August, 2004
Statements from Chelsea and Adrian Mutu’s representatives are contradictory as his move to Juventus hangs in the balance.
"Mutu left London on Thursday for Italy and he'll sign a deal with Juventus on Friday," his agent Gica Popescu told a news agency.
This was added to his other representatives Andrea Pretti and Ioan Becali informing newspapers that a loan switch, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, was ready for completion.
However, on Thursday evening Chelsea FC issued a statement assuring that no such action had been taken.
“Contrary to certain reports in the media,” said the official Stamford Bridge side website, “Chelsea has not agreed a deal with Juventus regarding Adrian Mutu, and unless we do or if we don’t, he remains a Chelsea player.”
The Italian press is nonetheless convinced that Mutu will be wearing the Bianconeri jersey by the weekend. It’s claimed the 25-year-old will arrive on loan, with Chelsea still paying 30 per cent of his wages.
Another Premiership club has also issued a statement denying a switch to Serie A is a done deal, as Paolo Di Canio was in confirmed negotiations with Lazio.
"We have not heard of any deal involving Paolo di Canio,” a Charlton Athletic spokesman told the BBC this afternoon.
This is a surprise to Italian football fans, as his agent Moreno Roggi told news services, “I had a meeting with President Claudio Lotito to confirm what had already been talked about. Now everything depends on Lazio.”
Di Canio is their number one target and it’s claimed he would be willing to accept a massive pay cut, earning just £165,000 a season, in order to return to the club he left 14 years ago